Questions regarding dash lights...

[03svtsnakevert]

Ok, I hooked the battery up to my truck (no motor or tranny) to see what works...and pretty much everything does, with the exception of the dash lights...I checked the lone fuse for them and it seems to be okay...just wondering if you guys have ran into this and what you did to diagnose and repair the problem...BTW, the truck is a 72 with the idiot light dash bezel.

Thanks and I am really starting to enjoy the forum!!

[fordman]

did you try turning the headlight knob? if you did and they still dont work then the coil inside the headlight switch could be bad or something else inside the headlight switch could be bad.

[TheEskimo]

When I got mine, all two of the dash lights were burnt out. LOL!!!

[03svtsnakevert]

did you try turning the headlight knob? if you did and they still dont work then the coil inside the headlight switch could be bad or something else inside the headlight switch could be bad.

ok, I will look into replacing the headlight switch

[03svtsnakevert]

When I got mine, all two of the dash lights were burnt out. LOL!!!

LOL..is that all there are of the dash lights? 2 of them???

[1971ford]

theres like 5 or so in the cluster, there is one for the radio, and one for the heater controls.

[fordman]

they have 5 bulbs in them. two on each side and one on top.

[TheEskimo]

Huh, I only saw two in mine as I recall. One on either side of the speedometer. Unless you count the indicator bulbs, didn't think of those.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey 03svtsnakevert

I just swapped my '68 wiring harness onto the F-600 panel I installed in the '68 CS...
There are 2 instrument panel lights, 2 turn indicator lights, and one high-beam indicator on the '68 harness.
After sitting for a few years I've had to go thru nearly the whole electrical system chasing gremlins.
My dash lights wern't working either, I checked all the bulbs, they were all good and the wiring and connections were all good...
Checked the fuse, it looked good...
I was a little puzzed, so I got out the trusty test light...
I tested each fuse by attaching the clip end of the tester to the fuse, then touching a power source with the probe end, you can touch the fuse to ground the test light sould come on.
With the fuse in the panel box, clip the tester end to a good ground.
Test the fuse ends. There should be no power to the fuse until the light switch is on and the knob turned the direction that would normally turn panel lights on... the tester should light when you touch each end, if not, then the circuit is faulty.
Mine only had power on one side of the fuse.
Come find out the connection on one side was corroded.
I took a small piece of emery cloth and a small flat head screw driver to each side. I put a little dab of dielectric grease on each end of the fuse before installing it into the fiuse box... the panel lights work great now.

Hope that helps...

KaptnKA S

[fordman]

i must have counted the trun indicators. and i couldnt tell or remember if there was a high beam light at the top too. so i messed that one up. the cluster backlighting has only two bulbs for the back lights.

[03svtsnakevert]

Hey 03svtsnakevert

I just swapped my '68 wiring harness onto the F-600 panel I installed in the '68 CS...
There are 2 instrument panel lights, 2 turn indicator lights, and one high-beam indicator on the '68 harness.
After sitting for a few years I've had to go thru nearly the whole electrical system chasing gremlins.
My dash lights wern't working either, I checked all the bulbs, they were all good and the wiring and connections were all good...
Checked the fuse, it looked good...
I was a little puzzed, so I got out the trusty test light...
I tested each fuse by attaching the clip end of the tester to the fuse, then touching a power source with the probe end, you can touch the fuse to ground the test light sould come on.
With the fuse in the panel box, clip the tester end to a good ground.
Test the fuse ends. There should be no power to the fuse until the light switch is on and the knob turned the direction that would normally turn panel lights on... the tester should light when you touch each end, if not, then the circuit is faulty.
Mine only had power on one side of the fuse.
Come find out the connection on one side was corroded.
I took a small piece of emery cloth and a small flat head screw driver to each side. I put a little dab of dielectric grease on each end of the fuse before installing it into the fiuse box... the panel lights work great now.

Hope that helps...

KaptnKA S

I will check into this today...I know that the signal indicators work, but nothing else

[kaptnkaos]

It could also be your light switch itself... if everything else checks out I'd replace the switch.

Since the power feed for the panel lights goes through the light switch the problem could be there.
The switch has a spring reostat that has a contact touching it, when you turn the knob it either shortens or the lengthens the amount of spring the current goes though... thus dimming or brightening the panel lights...
If that spring or the contact point is corroded panel lights won't work even if the rest of the switch works fine...
That's one of those parts that "if it is in question" just replace it...
You can get one for under $20 at any parts house.
NAPA's standard duty one is number MPE HL6541SB = $16.69
NAPA carries a heavy duty one for $35.99 ECH HL6541

The turn signal indicator and high beam indicator are on differant circuits so they could work and not the panel lights themselves...

KaptnKA S

[03svtsnakevert]

It could also be your light switch itself... if everything else checks out I'd replace the switch.

Since the power feed for the panel lights goes through the light switch the problem could be there.
The switch has a spring reostat that has a contact touching it, when you turn the knob it either shortens or the lengthens the amount of spring the current goes though... thus dimming or brightening the panel lights...
If that spring or the contact point is corroded panel lights won't work even if the rest of the switch works fine...
That's one of those parts that "if it is in question" just replace it...
You can get one for under $20 at any parts house.
NAPA's standard duty one is number MPE HL6541SB = $16.69
NAPA carries a heavy duty one for $35.99 ECH HL6541

The turn signal indicator and high beam indicator are on differant circuits so they could work and not the panel lights themselves...

KaptnKA S

Thanks!!!! I will look into this

[Supermike]

Ok, I hooked the battery up to my truck (no motor or tranny) to see what works...and pretty much everything does, with the exception of the dash lights...I checked the lone fuse for them and it seems to be okay...just wondering if you guys have ran into this and what you did to diagnose and repair the problem...

I have run into this issue, but with my '67. And the 67's are a bit of a different beast when it comes to dash lights. However, I can tell you this... one of the BEST tools I have bought since getting this truck is a test light. And not JUST a test light, but I bought a little electical kit that came with a test light, wire cutter/stripper/crimper, some wire, lots of wire nuts, etc., test jumpers, zip ties... I paid like $30 for it at Walmart, and it was worth every penny. You can get them at Autozone, too.

[03svtsnakevert]

Ok, I hooked the battery up to my truck (no motor or tranny) to see what works...and pretty much everything does, with the exception of the dash lights...I checked the lone fuse for them and it seems to be okay...just wondering if you guys have ran into this and what you did to diagnose and repair the problem...

I have run into this issue, but with my '67. And the 67's are a bit of a different beast when it comes to dash lights. However, I can tell you this... one of the BEST tools I have bought since getting this truck is a test light. And not JUST a test light, but I bought a little electical kit that came with a test light, wire cutter/stripper/crimper, some wire, lots of wire nuts, etc., test jumpers, zip ties... I paid like $30 for it at Walmart, and it was worth every penny. You can get them at Autozone, too.

Thanks man! Yeah, I have a couple of test lights and was going to mess with it this evening but did not get off of work in time...I will check the fuse block first and if that ain't it I will get another headlamp switch